Ribbon spool



March 11, 1969 J. L. MORELLI RIBBON SPOOL Sheet '3 of 3 Filed July 14, 1967 INVENTOR JOSEPH L MORELLI 32W A TORNEY J. L. MORELLI March 11, 1969 RIBBON SPOOL Filed July 14, 1967 Jo of 5 Sheet INVENTOR JOSEPH L. MORELLI Fig-7 TORNEY United States Patent 3,432,021 RIBBON SPOOL Joseph L. Morelli, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Litton Business Systems, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed July 14, 1967, Ser. No. 653,551 US. Cl. 197--151 4 Claims Int. Cl. B41j 33/14, 35/00; B65h 75/18 a ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carbon ribbon spool for winding used ribbon having, a pair of separable flanges one of which has a hub of variable diameter which is easily contracted to release the used ribbon wound thereon.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a carbon ribbon spool and more particularly to a take-up spool for facilitating easy ejection and disposal of used ribbon therefrom.

Carbon ribbon is becoming more and more popular for use on correspondence typewriters because of the clarity and excellence of the copy produced thereby. In machines employing carbon ribbons a desirable objective is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool which can accommodate all or at least sufiicient amounts of the ribbon on a supply spool as to reduce the necessity for frequent disposal of used ribbon from a full take-up spool. To accomplish this objective with a take-up spool of similar dimensions as the supply spool, the run of the carbon ribbon between the ribbon index mechanism and take-up spool is maintained under tension to thereby wind the ribbon as tightly as possible on the take-up spool. As the take-up spools are reuseable it is necessary that the ribbon wound tightly thereon be easily removed and discarded.

While various means for the removal of the used carbon ribbon have been suggested in the prior art, none of them have proven entirely satisfactory and as a result, heretofore, the removal of tightly wound ribbon from the take-up spool has often been difiicult, inconvenient and time consuming.

" Summary of the invention In accordance with the invention there is provided a carbon ribbon spool characterized by an inner flange adapted to be rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used carbon ribbon on the spool, and an outer flange having an axially extending hub adapted to be releasably secured coaxially to the inner flange. The hub between the flanges supports a flat spirally wound spring mounted and fulcrumed at one end to a pin riveted to the outer flange. The other end of the spring is free enabling the spring to serve as a support core or as the hub of a support core of wound used ribbon.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an element is mounted on the outer flange hub for axial movement relative to and between the hub and spring to support the coil spring or to permit the coil spring to contract in which case the wound ribbon is readily released from the spool. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of one or more toothed notches in the rim of its outer flange into which the leading end of the ribbon to be wound may be inserted and secured.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool which facilitates the release of tightly wound used ribbon therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool which is easily disassembled for removal of used carbon ribbon and easily assembled to permit winding of ribbon thereon.

3,432,021 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 Another object of the present invention is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool having an expandable hub which may easily be contracted to release used ribbon wound on the spool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool having an expandable hub which provides the minimal support necessary to support a flat coil spring so that used ribbon may be wound thereon.

Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawing which accompanics and forms part of the specification.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation view showing a carbon ribbon supply and take-up spool operatively mounted on portions of the frame of a typewriter;

FIGURE 2 is an outside left hand elevation view partly in section of the carbon ribbon take-up spool and the ribbon index wheels which permit ribbon to be drawn from a supply spool by a ribbon take-up and tensioning drive means associated with the take-up spool;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation view showing the spool hub and the coil spring supporting a wound ribbon;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 7 showing the hub contracted to release ribbon wound on the coil spring;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing the means for varying the diameter of the coil spring;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3 showing the expanded coil spring, the spool hub and associated elements in more detail; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 77 of FIGURE 4 showing the spring coil hub in a contracted or ribbon release poistion.

Description 0 the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawing there is shown in FIGURE 1, a typewriter frame 10 which rotatably supports a carbon ribbon supply spool 11 on the right side of the machine associated with conventional drag means (not shown) to control the rate at which the spool rotates. The ribbon 12 from the supply spool 11 is directed around a right guide roller 13, through a ribbon vibrator structure generally designated by reference numeral 14, and around a left guide roller 15. As viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2-, the ribbon 12 passing around the left guide roller 15 passes between ribbon indexing rollers 16 and 17 which normally grip the ribbon 12, and permit a predetermined amount of ribbon 12 to be drawn from the supply spool 11 subsequent to each type action. More particularly, the roller 16 is supported for rotation by a shaft 18 which is indexable by a conventional mechanism subsequent to each type action, and roller 17 is supported for rotation on a bracket (not shown) which is spring biased toward roller 16, whereby when roller 16 is indexed the ribbon 12 is permitted to be drawn between the rollers 16 and 17 by, and wound on, a take-up spool generally designated by reference numeral 21. Associated with the take-up spool 21 is a conventional drive means to rotatably urge the take-up spool 21 in a counterclockwise or take-up direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 to take up the ribbon 12 permitted to pass by rollers 16 and 17 and to maintain the length 22 of ribbon 12 between the index rollers 16 and 17 and the take-up spool 21 taut. Such a drive means may be a gear 23 engaging a geared portion 24 of the inner take-up spool flange 28 and driven by a slip connection (not shown). Accordingly, the ribbon 12 will be maintained taut at all times and will be tightly wound on the take-up spool 21 giving rise to the problems hereinbefore mentioned which have been solved by the spool construction of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 3-7 which best show the structural details of the invention, the take-up spool shown in FIGURE 3 is preferably made of plastic and comprises an inner circular flange 28 having a central bored hub 29 whereby the inner flange 28 may be rotatably mounted on a spindle 31 secured to the left side of the typewriter frame 10. The hub 29 is integral with and extends from the bottom of an annular rightwardly extending cup-like projection 32. A gear 24 projecting from the inner take-up spool flange 28 may be used to drive the take-up spool 21. The pickup spool 21 further comprises an outer circular flange 33 having a central circular opening 33a bisected by, as viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7, 180 spaced webs 35 which extend inwardly from the flange 33 to centrally support a hollow hub generally designated by reference numeral 36 which extends to either side of the flange 33. Thus, chordal openings 34 are formed on either side of the webs 35. The rightwardly extending portion 37 of the hub 36 is preferably open at its end 36a and formed, though alternative quick connectdisconnect means may be used, with spiral grooves 38 which are adapted to mate with spiral ribs 39 in the periphery of the inner flange hub 29 whereby counterclockwise movement of the inner flange 28 will secure the hubs 36 and 29 together in a tight but readily separable relationship.

As viewed most clearly in FIGURES 4, 6 and 7, a post or pin 41 is rivetedly mounted on one of the webs 35 of the outer flange 33 and extends inwardly toward the inner flange 28. A groove 40 is provided in the outer surface of hub 36 providing a pocket 40a for the pin 41. A flat spirally found coil spring generally designated by reference numeral 46 is mounted and fulcrumed at one end 43 to the post or pin 41. The other end 42 of the spring 46 is free and overlaps the end 43 assuming a substantially concentric attitude enabling the spring 46 to be expanded and contracted.

The flat spirally wound coil spring 46 has a width which is slightly larger than the distance between the inner and outer spool flanges 28 and 33 and extends from the outer flange 33 into the cup-like member 32 of the inner flange 28. In spools for conventional size ribbons 7 of an inch in width, the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 is approximately of an inch in width.

In order to provide support for the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 so that it may serve as the core for wound used ribbon, as shown in FIGURES 3-5, a camming element designated by reference numeral 53 is mounted for axial movement about and relative to the outer flange hub 36. The camming element 53 comprises a central annular body portion 54 which is slidably mounted on the leftwardly extending portion 55 of the outer flange hub 36. Extending leftward from the annular body portion 54, the camming element 53 flares outward providing a handle 56 which may be manipulated in coopera tion with the leftward extending hub portion 55 to withdraw the camming element 53 as will hereinafter be discussed in more detail.

Extending to the right of the annular body portion 54 are a pair of oppositely spaced camming fingers 57 which extend through the chordal openings 34. Each of the fingers 57 as shown in FIGURE comprises a straight body section 58 shaped to be accommodated b the chordal openings 34. The terminal ends 61 of the camming fingers 57 are tapered and slope toward the axis of the spool 21.

As viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7 the cam fingers 57 are adapted to move between the rightwardly extending portion 37 of the hub 36 and the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 mounted thereon to support and release the flat spirally wound coil spring 46.

The camming element 53 is biased toward the right by a. coil spring 63 mounted about the left end of the hub 55 against the annular portion 54 of the camming element 53 and held in place by a cap 64 press fit into the hub 55. The coil spring 63 is calibrated so as to provide sufficient force to prevent inadvertent movement of the camming element 53 due to vibration. The straight portion 58 of the camming element 53 is adapted to extend to the right past the outer flange 33 a distance equal to approximately one third the width of the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 in order to adequately support the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 and the ribbon 12 subsequently wound thereon. In ribbon spools manufactured for winding conventional size typewriter ribbon in which the spool flanges 33 and 28 are approximately 7 of an inch apart, the straight portion 58 of the camming finger 57, when in its normal postion, extends past the outer flange 33 and under the flat sprially wound coil spring 46 a distance of approximately A; of an inch. In this manner the camming element 53 provides excellent support and release for the flat spirally wound coil spring 46.

In use, with the flanges 33 and 28 separated and the camming element 53 positioned to support the flat spirally wound coil spring 46, the terminal portion 50 of a carbon ribbon 12 will be secured in a toothed notch in the outer flange 33 as shown in FIGURE 2 and the outer flange 33 is automatically joined to the inner flange 28 by threading the hubs 29 and 36 together.

By providing toothed notches 70 about the periphery of the outer flange 33, should a break occur in the carbon ribbon 12 being wound, the new end formed may be quickly secured in one of the notches 70 and the winding of the ribbon 12 continued without the necessity of removing the ribbon 12 already wound from the takeup spool 21.

When the take-up spool 21 is fully loaded, the operator cuts off the power to the drive shaft 26 and manually rotates the outer flange 33 in a direction opposite to the winding direction unthreading the hubs 29 and 36 and separating the flanges 33 and inner flange 28. With the outer flange 33 so separated, an operator need only grasp the finger piece 56 of the camming element 53 between the index finger and middle finger, place a thumb on the cap 64 of the hub 55 and pull the fingers against the force of spring 63 to withdraw the camming element 53 so that the straight portion 58 of the camming element 53 will clear the flat sprially wound coil spring 46. The flat spirally wound coil spring 46 will then pivot and contract under the tension exerted by the wound used ribbon 12 reducing the circumference of the flat spirally wound coil spring 46 and free the used Wound ribbon 12 from the spool 21 so that it may be dropped into a waste receptacle.

I claim:

1. A carbon ribbon take-up spool comprising a first circular flange rotatably mounted on a machine frame and driven to wind used carbon ribbon,

a second circular flange,

a coaxial hub centrally supported by a pair of webs on said second circular flange,

means for releasably securing said hub coaxially to said first circular flange,

a pin mounted on one of said pair of webs of said second circular flange,

a flat spirally wound coil spring mounted and fulcrumed at one end on said pin, said flat spirally wound coil spring extending outward from said pin and wound about said hub in a substantially concentric attitude,

at least one notch in said second circular flange for releasably attaching the lead end of a used ribbon to said take-up spool,

and camming means axially movable relative to said hub from a position outside of said second circular flange to a position between said first and second circular flanges and between said hub and flat spirally wound coil spring, said camming means when positioned between the flanges, serving to support said fiat spirally wound coil spring whereby said flat spirally wound coil spring acts as a core for said ribbon attached to said take-up spool as it is wound thereon, and when positioned outside of said second circular flange releases said spirally wound coil spring to pivot about said pin and contract evenly about its center under the tension exerted by the wound ribbon, freeing the used wound ribbon from said takeup spool.

2. A carbon ribbon take-up spool as defined in claim 1 wherein said camming means includes a tapered portion for facilitating contraction of said flat spirally Wound coil spring and a straight portion axially extending under said flat spirally wound coil spring a distance approximately equal to /3 the width of said flat spirally wound coil spring for supporting said fiat spirally wound coil spring.

3. A carbon ribbon take-up spool as defined in claim 2 wherein said first circular flange includes a cup-like member centered about its axis and said coil spring extends from said second circular flange into said cup-like memher.

4. A carbon ribbon take-up spool as defined in claim 3 including resilient means for biasing said camming means to a position between said first and second circular flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,536 10/1912 Hansen 24272 2,203,101 6/1940 Pausin 24271.8 3,002,707 10/1961 Noble 242-71.8 X 3,317, 155 5/1967 Geissler 242--71.8

FOREIGN PATENTS 4,196 12/ 1931 Australia.

OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Disposal of Typewriter Ribbon, Caudill et al., vol. 8, No. 8, January 1966, pp. 1127, 1128, 197-151.

20 ERNEST T. WRIGHT, 111., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 197175; 24271.8, 72 

